If you have been following the skin care research for any length of time, you’ve probably heard of antioxidants. As they sound, antioxidants are substances which prevent (or at least slow down) the damaging effects of reactive oxygen on the skin.
This reactive oxygen is one type of free radical. Free radicals are produced by normal human metabolism, and are increased in the presence of radiation, heavy metal exposure, smoking, and alcohol.
Left unchecked, free radicals damage the body’s proteins, DNA, and cell membranes. For the skin, they lead to aging and potentially skin cancers. Free radicals also have negative impact on the rest of the body, too, as they have been linked to heart damage, cancer, and a weakened immune system.
Eating a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables is a natural way to build your antioxidant reserve. Antioxidants can be eaten (as in fruit, vegetables, or in supplements) and can also be applied to the skin (as in Vitamin E cream).
Some of the best known antioxidants are Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, Vitamin C, glutathione, green-tea, and the soy isoflavones.
Each of these work differently to improve and protect the skin, but any diet should include these substances in order to be healthy, well balanced, and skin beneficial.
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Under-eye circles, those dark or blackish circles you see under your eyes can be caused by many different factors, including heredity, sun exposure, allergies, lack of sleep, medications, poor nutrition, age, and hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and menstruation.
Heredity and sun exposure can both lead to darkening of the skin under the eyes. Allergies may be another factor, as would any other skin or respiratory condition that would lead you to rub or wipe your eyes.
Rubbing or wiping your eyes will increase blood flow to the eye area. Since the skin around the eyes is very thin, increased blood flow will show up as dark circles under your eyes.
Certain medications can cause dark circles, most often those which result in blood vessel dilation. The hormonal shifts associated with pregnancy and menstruation may also change the color and texture of the skin under the eye.
While all these factors can play a role in the development of dark circles under your eyes, the two most common culprits are lack of adequate nutrition and lack of enough sleep.
If you have dark circles under your eyes, consider adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, as people with diets low in vitamins C and E (antioxidants), low in lutein, beta carotene, and zinc are likely to have dark circles.
Get enough sleep, and sleep with your head slightly elevated. Getting enough sleep will always help you look and feel better; sleeping with your head slightly elevated will keep the skin around the eye draining properly.
No matter what your reason for undereye circles, remember there are steps you can take to effectively combat them.
And if all else fails? Invest in a good quality concealer cream, and dot it on the inside corners of your eyes, and blend in gently. This one trick, alone, makes me look like I’ve slept a hundred hours.
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